[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster].

  • St. Margaret & St. John, Westminster (London, England). Parish. Vestry.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/57 (page 45)
    45 It was stated that the Welsh strike and the consequent difficulty in procuring hard coal was largely responsible for the immense volumes of black smoke which daily and nightly issued from huge chimney stacks in all parts of the Metropolis. During May a letter was received from the Public Control Department of the London County Council, on the question of smoke consumption generally, and urging the Vestries to strictly enforce the law, owing to a growing disregard of the sanitary provisions of the Smoke Prevention Act. The Thames steamers were among the prominent offenders, and a pedestrian crossing one of the river bridges stood a good chance of partial suffocation. During May also, the solicitor to the Vestry reported to the Committee on the question of the emission of black smoke from steamers plying on the river, pointing out the authority for the suppression of the nuisance is the Corporation of the City of London as the Port Sanitary Authority. The complaint having been confirmed by the remarks of the magistrate at the police-court, and by members' repeated observations, The Public Health Committee directed that a communica tion be addressed to the Port Sanitary Authority, re questing them to take steps for an immediate and effective remedy, and to each of the riparian Sanitary Authorities in the Metropolis, asking them to co operate by making a similar request to the responsible authority. The Committee, in some instances, finding that no improve ment followed upon the service of Notices, summonses were obtained, and in several of the more serious offences, fines were imposed. Amongst the offenders are the following Companies West minster Electric Sup ply Corpora tion Limited, E ccleston place Failing to abate nuisance of black smoke after notice Abatement order made, fines & costs £1 3s. Royal Palace Hotel Com pany, Limited, High - street, Kensington Causing black smoke to be sent forth from engine - house chimney Fines & costs £5 & £1 3s.